Is Chile's anti-fare evasion strategy paying off?

Chilean authorities have reduced fare evasion in the capital’s public transportation system but this hasn't been reflected in increased revenue. 

The system's fare validation rose 14% year-on-year in the January-September period. Meanwhile, the evasion rate dropped to 38% in the first half of the year compared to 45% in 1H23, said transport minister Juan Carlos Muñoz.

“It doesn’t mean 14% more collection because many validations come from riders making a second validation within the same journey,” Muñoz told BNamericas during a press conference.

The transport ministry (MTT) has intensified fare inspections on buses over the past two years, resulting in around 34,000 fines that can go up to 1.5UTM (monthly tax units, US$105). Over 24,000 offenders who did not pay their fines have been placed in a registry that bars them from obtaining a valid driver's license.

Other actions against fare evasion include installing validation totems in buses’ back doors, installing cameras and having riders pay their fare before boarding buses.